Trash can shoe

ABSTRACT

A trash can shoe comprising a substantially nonlinear body having an upper and lower surface with a thickness therebetween, a proximal and distal end; and a means for reuseably and removably attaching the body to a trash can.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a trash can shoe, particularly, a deviceproviding means for extending the life expectancy of a trash can.

Garbage, refuse, trash can, pail, and or receptacle (hereafter trashcan(s)) have been around for quite sometime, wherein a more contemporaryuse thereof has evolved into containers having various characteristics.The user of such a device often encounters issues depending on thecharacteristics of the user, such as age, strength, health, and otherfactors, in maneuvering such device, particularly when having contentstherein. For example, wheels have been included in such device so as toassist the user in transporting the container, particularly when suchcontainer has heavy contents, typically, when loaded to the brim thereofas commented in U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,702 to Young. Moreover, there is apattern of wear which appears statistically common amongst receptacles.For example, generally receptacles have either one or two handlesequidistant form one another. In wheel less models, the bottom thereofbecome worn, in single handle models, opposite from the handle, inmultihandled, directly below the handles, wherein wheels have beenincluded to not only assist the user in transport, but to reduce wear,however, there are still limitations and wear still does occur.

A second benefit of having wheels on the bottom of the can is that whentransporting the loaded can from the side of one's abode to a stagedarea awaiting pickup, typically the curb, the can may be tipped whereinonly the wheels are in contact with the ground. However, the wheels onlyprotect the bottom of the can in a very limited orientation, asdescribed herein above. That is, the garbage collectors (i.e., garbagemen and women), who typically handle hundreds of cans a day, typicallydrag two cans at a time, one by each hand, from the curb to the vehicle,not using the tilting feature of the wheels, thereby causing prematurewear of the bottom of the can. Secondly, once the collector ispositioned with the loaded can at the mouth of the vehicle, each can istypically lifted by the handle, typically located on the same side asthe wheels thereby causing the opposite corners/edges of the bottom ofthe can to come in contact with the ground, wherefrom the can is emptiedby inversion.

Thirdly, once each can is emptied, it is typically dropped to theground, often on edge without wheels, and thereafter launched in asliding manner on the bottom back to the curb. Thus, the function of thewheeled feature is essentially used only by the owner of the can whentransporting to and from the curb.

However, the commonality of the problem is not so limited. For example,landscaping pails, typically, the 60 gallon variety and green, althoughthere is a plethora of colours used, are used by landscapers for grassclippings, leaves etc. Due in part, to the large capacity (volume wise)and handling of the container is commonly dragged or pushed to and fromvarious points of use. More particularly, when a landscaper is operatinga walk behind mower, such as, inter alia, a Bobcat, having anywhere fromabout a 30″ to 48″ width cut, and the grass clippings are emptied intothe pail, and the operator needs to move to another location, forexample from the front lawn to the back, the pail is positioned betweenthe front wheels of the mower and pushed to the new location, which isnot as wearing on the bottom portion of the pail if all along a grassysurface. However, once the operator completes mowing the lawn, the pailis then again placed between the wheels of the mower and commonly pushedfrom the grassy location across non-grassy locations such as the patio,driveway, street, and if the landscaper has multiple houses to cut in adevelopment, it is further not uncommon for the operator to venture upand down the street to the location of the truck to dump the contents ofthe pail. Moreover, this landscaping pail is often dropped from the backof the vehicle upon completion of the dumping process, onto the edge ofthe bottom.

In light thereof, an advantage of this invention is to provide a devicewhich may be secured to a trash receptacle thereby further extending theuseful life expectancy of the trash receptacle.

It is a further advantage of the invention to provide a device which isof relatively noncomplex construction, inexpensive to manufacture, andeasy to use, and replace.

Hence, it would be beneficial therefore to provide a device wherein thetrash can shoe may be manufactured essentially unitarily, wherein theend user may install, remove, and replace efficiently.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A trash can shoe comprising a substantially nonlinear body having anupper and lower surface with a thickness therebetween, a proximal anddistal end; and a means for reuseably and removably attaching said bodyto a trash can.

A trash can shoe system comprising a plurality of substantiallynonlinear bodies, each body having an upper and lower surface with athickness therebetween, a proximal and distal end; a means for reuseablyand removably attaching said body to a trash can; wherein said pluralityis attached equidistant about the bottommost portion of a trash can,either internally, or preferably externally.

A trash can shoe comprising a substantially nonlinear body having anupper and lower surface with a thickness therebetween, a center with anouter periphery; and a means for reuseably and removably attaching saidbody to a trash can.

Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will becomemore apparent from the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings, in which like reference characters indicate likeparts, are provided for illustration of the invention and are notintended to limit the invention in any manner whatsoever.

FIG. 1A is bottom view of common rectangular wheeled unihandled trashcan;

FIG. 1B is a bottom view of a cylindrical non-wheeled unihandled trashcan;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention as mounted on a common rectangular wheeled unihandled trashcan;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention as mounted on a cylindrical non-wheeled multi-handled trashcan; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, for use with a cylindrical non-wheeled unihandledtrash can as illustrated in FIG. 1B hereinabove.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following descriptions of the preferred embodiments are presented toillustrate the present invention and are not to be construed to limitthe claims in any manner whatsoever.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1A through 4, wherein likereference numerals identify similar structural elements of the deviceset forth herein. FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate two common trash cans, theformer a rectangular wheeled unihandled can, and the later a commoncylindrical landscapers pail (e.g., nonwheeled unihandled) as set forthabove, wherein the typical pail is about 27 inches in height, about 23inches in outside diameter around the base. Moreover, wherein bothfigures, reference A indicates the common points of wear due to contactwith ground (wherein the later has a common footing B, about 4 inches inthe 60 gallon version, about the outer periphery on the bottommostportion of the pail).

In a preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, a trash can shoe 1comprises a substantially nonlinear body 2 having an upper and lowersurface 4,6 respectively, with a thickness 8 therebetween, and a width10. The shoe 1 further includes a proximal and distal end 12,14respectively; and a means 16 for reuseably and removably attaching saidbody 2 to a trash can.

The body 2 is preferably made from a material having, inter alia, thefollowing characteristics, lightweight, oxidation resistant, oxidationproof, as the lifting of a can with contents therein would not needunnecessary weight, and since the use of the trash receptacle istypically outdoors, the material should be at least rust resistant,preferably rust proof. Moreover, the body 2 is preferably made from amaterial having a non-low hardness factor (wherein brittleness is theopposite of toughness and is a function of temperature and speed ofimpact), that is, the material should be durable. The body 2 should befrom a material having a non-high brittleness factor, such as polyvinylchloride, such that the material should not develop fissures undertypical climate oscillations. For example, whether the material is usedin Death Valley, Calif., or whether in Fairbanks, Ak., the materialshould be durable enough to withstand such climate oscillations. In thisregard, the thickness 8 of the material will be dependent on thematerial used, and the climate it is exposed to, however, if polyvinylchloride is utilized, the thickness 8 should be about 0.25inches+/−0.1875 inches.

A trash can shoe affixation means 16 may be one or more of the followingeither alone or in combination, namely, a threaded fastener, anadhesive, a rivet, and interlocking features. FIG. 2 illustrates apreferred embodiment of the affixation means 16 wherein a hole 16 a neareach end 12,14 wherein a self tapping screw 16 b is inserted from thelower surface 4 towards the upper surface 6 and into the trash can. Itis preferred that screw 16 b is recessed and/or counter sunk such thatthe head of the screw 16 b when completely installed is below the lowersurface 4. This system of using a threaded fastener 16 b provides forthe quickest installation, and/or replacement of a body 2. Moreover,other types of fixation devices are envisioned to be utilized.Furthermore, in one embodiment, the trash can shoe 1 is configured anddimensioned wherein the upper surface 4 is configured and dimensioned tomate with a trash can. For example, the substantially nonlinear body 2is substantially ski shaped as illustrated in FIG. 2, wherein it 2 iselongated and having at least one end 14 curved upwardly, this curvedfeature provides protection on a plurality of sides, namely, thebottommost portion of the container, as well as when the container isorientated and/or tilted about its axis thereby causing contact betweena second portion of the container other than the bottommost portionthereof, such as the wall of the container (not shown).

In an alternative embodiment, also not shown, the shoe 1 may be mountedinternally to the can, for example, to plug a hole from the insiderather than from the outside as in the former scenario, although thisinternal mounting would not necessarily be limited to a reactive act ofplugging a wear hole, but may be proactively installed prior to thedevelopment of a wear hole so as maintain the integrity of the can,thereby preventing leakage of prospective contents, whether liquid orsolid.

In still another alternative embodiment, also not shown, the shoe 1 maycomprise a plurality of bodies 2 a,2 b wherein the first and secondbodies 2 a,2 b may be assembled so as to substantially sandwich thecontainer. For example, the first and second embodiments set forthherein above, may be taken together, that is, one body 2 a is installedinternally, and the second body 2 b is installed externally. In suchembodiment, lower surface 6 of the first body 2 a would be contoured tomate with the inside of the container, whereas the upper surface 4 ofthe second body 2 b would be contoured to mate with the outer surface ofthe container.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate another preferred embodiment, a trash canshoe system 101 comprising: a plurality of substantially nonlinearbodies 102, each body 102 having an upper and lower surface 104, 106with a thickness 108 therebetween, a proximal and distal end 112, 114; ameans 116 for reuseably and removably attaching said body 102 to a trashcan; wherein said plurality 102 is attached substantially equidistantabout the bottommost portion of a trash can, either internally, orpreferably, externally to the trash can. More particularly, FIG. 3Aillustrates a plurality of bodies 102 attached to the bottommost portionof the pail at the common wear points for a unihandled wheeled trashreceptacle. Whereas FIG. 3B illustrates a plurality bodies 102 attachedat the common wear points for a multihandled wheel-less cylindricalpail.

Wherein said body 102 is made from a material having characteristicsselected from the group consisting of lightweight, oxidation resistant,and oxidation proof, and wherein each body 102 is made from a materialhaving a non-low hardness factor. Each body 102 is made from a materialhaving a non-high brittleness factor, such as from polyvinyl chloride orother durable material, such that the material shant develop fissureswhile exposed to typical climate oscillations. The thickness 108 of thematerial should be about 0.25 inches+/−about 0.1875 inches.

The affixation means 116 is selected from the group consisting of athreaded fastener, an adhesive, a rivet, and interlocking features takenalone or in combination, but may also include other common types offixation devices. The upper surface 106 is configured and dimensioned tomate with a trash can.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a still further embodiment, a trash can shoe201 comprising: a substantially nonlinear body 202 having an upper andlower surface 204, 206 with a thickness 208 therebetween, a center 209with an outer periphery 211 having a height 213 and overall width 215.The shoe 201 further a portion optionally removed in the center 209.

The shoe 201 further having an affixation means 216 for reuseably andremovably attaching said body 202 to a trash can; wherein said body 202is made from a material having characteristics selected from the groupconsisting of lightweight, oxidation resistant, and oxidation proof. Thebody 202 is made from a material having a non-low hardness factor. Thebody 202 is made from a material having a non-high brittleness factorsuch as polyvinyl chloride, or a metal. The affixation means 216 isselected from the group consisting of a threaded fastener, an adhesive,a rivet, and interlocking features, wherein FIGS. 4A and 4B illustratean interlocking feature.

In this embodiment, the upper surface 204 and the outer periphery 211are configured and dimensioned to mate with a trash can. In thisembodiment, it is preferred that the means 216 is interlocking, forexample, the shoe 201 maybe is placed onto the bottommost portion of atrash can by inverting the can and placing the shoe 201 on top of thecan and pressing fitting the two together, e.g., snap fit; or the shoe201 may be positioned and then placing the upright can on top of theshoe 201 and press fitting the two together. Although not required, anoptional center hole 209 may be included and is most useful when it isdesired to remove the shoe 201 from a particular can. For example, whenthe can is inverted, the pressure may be applied by the operatordirectly against the bottom of the can through the optional center hole209 while the shoe 201 is stabilized and or vice versa. Additionally, onolder cans, it may be necessary to supplement this snap fit technologyby incorporating a threaded fastener so as to stabilize theinterconnectivity between the shoe 201 and the older can.

Moreover, all of the above referenced patents; patent applications andpublications are hereby incorporated by reference. Many variations ofthe present invention will suggest themselves to those of ordinary skillin the art in light of the above detailed description. All such obviousmodifications are within the full-intended spirit and scope of theclaims of the present application.

1. A trash can shoe comprising: a substantially nonlinear body having anupper and lower surface with a thickness therebetween, a proximal anddistal end; and a means for reuseably and removably attaching said bodyto a trash can.
 2. A trash can shoe as in claim 1, wherein said body ismade from a material having characteristics selected from the groupconsisting of lightweight, oxidation resistant, and oxidation proof. 3.A trash can shoe as in claim 1, wherein said body is made from amaterial having a non-low hardness factor.
 4. A trash can shoe as inclaim 1, wherein said body is made from a material having a non-highbrittleness factor.
 5. A trash can shoe as in claim 1, wherein said bodyis made from polyvinyl chloride.
 6. A trash can shoe as in claim 1,wherein said means is selected from the group consisting of a threadedfastener, an adhesive, a rivet, and interlocking features.
 7. A trashcan shoe as in claim 1, wherein said upper surface is configured anddimensioned to mate with a trash can.
 8. A trash can shoe systemcomprising: a plurality of substantially nonlinear bodies, each bodyhaving an upper and lower surface with a thickness therebetween, aproximal and distal end; a means for reuseably and removably attachingsaid body to a trash can; wherein said plurality is attachedsubstantially equidistant about the bottommost portion of a trash can.9. A trash can shoe system as in claim 8, wherein said body is made froma material having characteristics selected from the group consisting oflightweight, oxidation resistant, and oxidation proof.
 10. A trash canshoe system as in claim 8, wherein said body is made from a materialhaving a non-low hardness factor.
 11. A trash can shoe system as inclaim 8, wherein said body is made from a material having a non-highbrittleness factor.
 12. A trash can shoe system as in claim 8, whereinsaid body is made from polyvinyl chloride.
 13. A trash can shoe systemas in claim 8, wherein said means is selected from the group consistingof a threaded fastener, an adhesive, a rivet, and interlocking features.14. A trash can shoe system as in claim 8, wherein said upper surface isconfigured and dimensioned to mate with a trash can.
 15. A trash canshoe system as in claim 8, wherein said plurality is externally attachedabout the bottommost portion of a trash can.
 16. A trash can shoe systemas in claim 8, wherein said plurality is internally attached about thebottommost portion of a trash can.
 17. A trash can shoe comprising: asubstantially nonlinear body having an upper and lower surface with athickness therebetween, a center with an outer periphery; and a meansfor reuseably and removably attaching said body to a trash can.
 18. Atrash can shoe as in claim 17, wherein said body is made from a materialhaving characteristics selected from the group consisting oflightweight, oxidation resistant, and oxidation proof.
 19. A trash canshoe as in claim 17, wherein said body is made from a material having anon-low hardness factor.
 20. A trash can shoe as in claim 17, whereinsaid body is made from a material having a non-high brittleness factor.21. A trash can shoe as in claim 17, wherein said body is made frompolyvinyl chloride.
 22. A trash can shoe as in claim 17, wherein saidmeans is selected from the group consisting of a threaded fastener, anadhesive, a rivet, and interlocking features.
 23. A trash can shoe as inclaim 17, wherein said upper surface is configured and dimensioned tomate with a trash can.
 24. A trash can shoe as in claim 17, wherein saidbody is made from a material comprising metal.